Live 81-82

Description

Though various live releases had emerged over the course of the bands existence, no full-length capturing of the Partys particular bacchanalia approved by the group had officially emerged until this release.

Stitching together tracks from a London date in 1981 and a German show in 1982 (plus a ringer cut from Athens, Greece a version of The Stooges Funhouse with Jim Thirwell aka Foetus on sax), Live 81-82 threatens at all points to leap from the speakers and throttle innocent bystanders. Clear sound on the first ten songs, all from the London date, makes resistance even harder. Given the sometimes (though intentionally) unclear or unexpected mixing of Party songs in studio, hearing everything via in-your-face stun methods brings out the abilities of the band all the more, especially Pew and his vicious bass work.

Songs like The Dim Locator and King Ink cut all the more closer to the bone as a result. Nick The Stripper, amazingly, is even more viciously sleazy than the original, which is saying something and a half; Cave sounds like hes summoning his voice from his shoes on up. The German dates sound is only slightly less thorough than the Londons, and the performances no less wired. Big-Jesus-Trash-Can thrashes around like theres no tomorrow, Pews bass again shooting through the mix, while The Friend Catcher seethes with a creepy, frigid energy. Harvey takes over on drums for the last two German tracks and the Funhouse cover, but even down to four people the band still generates more noise and activity than most other acts could hope to achieve.

Definite bonus points have to go to Cave for his occasional, softly spoken between-song asides Thank you, I love your haircuts as well. Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

Never before released on vinyl.

The only group-sanctioned live album.

Double LP set in a gatefold sleeve.

Includes a copy of the album on CD.